Delegates to COP-9
met Tuesday to adopt SBI and SBSTA conclusions and approve draft COP
decisions. In the morning and afternoon, contact groups met to
discuss non-Annex I national communications, implementation of
decision 5/CP.7 (implementation of UNFCCC Article 4.8 and 4.9 on
adverse effects), methodological work and sinks in the CDM. In the
afternoon and evening, Parties convened in SBSTA and SBI Plenaries
to adopt draft conclusions, with SBSTA completing its work. Informal
consultations also took place throughout the day.

CONTACT GROUPS

NON-ANNEX I NATIONAL
COMMUNICATIONS: Parties
continued consideration of draft conclusions and draft COP decisions
throughout the day. On a draft decision on submission of national
communications, the G-77/CHINA suggested text stating that
submissions shall be dependent on the availability of funding. The
EU, US and AUSTRALIA favored text requiring that second national
communications be submitted within three years of the availability
of financial resources. The G-77/CHINA underlined that it would not
discuss the issue of frequency of submissions. The US, opposed by
the G-77/CHINA, recommended text requiring non-Annex I Parties to
submit national inventories every two years. Informal consultations
continued throughout the day.

METHODOLOGICAL
ISSUES: Co-Chair Jim Penman
(UK) presented revised draft conclusions. On holding a workshop on
emissions projections, the US stressed that follow-up activities
should not be decided until the workshop has been completed. Opposed
by JAPAN, he said that there must be a focus solely on fourth
national communications. SAUDI ARABIA, opposed by JAPAN, insisted
that the workshop should focus only on Annex I Parties’ projections.
CANADA proposed text requesting the Secretariat to prepare a report
on the workshop for consideration at SBSTA-21.

Regarding the
preparation of national greenhouse gas inventories, the US, opposed
by NORWAY, urged that a reference to Protocol Articles 5
(methodological issues), 7 (communication of information) and 8
(review of information) should be included. SAUDI ARABIA expressed
concern about the possibility of creating new commitments. CANADA
suggested an additional reference to Protocol Article 5.1 (national
systems). Parties agreed to delete a paragraph noting existing and
potential work. Delegates agreed to forward the draft conclusions to
SBSTA.

IMPLEMENTATION OF
DECISION 5/CP.7: Following
morning informal consultations, Parties considered a revised
Co-Chairs’ draft decision in the afternoon. Addressing the initial
operative paragraphs of the text, delegates deliberated how to
address views on insurance, with the G-77/CHINA preferring to
discuss "possible elements of a work programme on insurance," and
the US preferring to discuss insurance and risk assessment. Parties
also debated the nature of a document containing submissions on
activities in support of the provisions of decision 5/CP.7.
Discussions continued informally throughout the day.

SINKS IN THE CDM:
In the final contact group
on sinks in the CDM, Co-Chair Thelma Krug (Brazil) presented a
revised draft COP decision resulting from informal consultations
held throughout Monday, 8 December, and into Tuesday morning, 9
December. She welcomed technical amendments, but, with several other
Parties, urged delegates not to re-open debate and risk the
"delicate balance" finally achieved. CANADA proposed deleting
reference in the draft decision to recognition of international
"environmental" agreements and leaving only "international
agreements." SWITZERLAND, with the EU, opposed the proposal but
accepted it in the spirit of compromise. SOUTH AFRICA said he had
hoped for more stringent stakeholder involvement but appreciated the
balance. Several Parties welcomed the compromise and congratulated
the Co-Chairs. The draft decision was agreed and forwarded to SBSTA
for approval.

SBSTA PLENARY

SBSTA Chair
Thorgeirsson announced that Margaret Martin (Canada) and Kishan
Kumarsingh (Trinidad and Tobago), were elected as EGTT Chair and
Vice-Chair, for 2004. TUNISIA presented the Djerba Declaration on
Tourism and Climate Change, which, inter alia, calls for the
IPCC to include tourism in its Fourth Assessment Report.

ORGANIZATIONAL
MATTERS: Election of officers other than the Chair: SBSTA elected Arthur Rolle (Bahamas) as
Vice-Chair of SBSTA, and Ibrahim Bin Ahmed Al-Ajami (Oman) as SBSTA
Rapporteur.

METHODOLOGICAL
ISSUES: Good Practice Guidance on LULUCF: Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe (Zimbabwe)
reported on successful conclusions in the contact group, which
include recommending a common reporting format and tables for
reporting greenhouse gases inventories under the UNFCCC. The SBSTA
adopted conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2003/L.22) and agreed to forward a
draft decision to the COP (FCCC/SBSTA/2003/L.22/Add.1).

Issues relating to
registry systems under Protocol Article 7.4:
Murray Ward (New Zealand) reported on informal consultations on
Protocol Article 7.4 (registries). He outlined the scope of the
draft conclusions, stressing the need for the Secretariat to focus
on developing the transaction log, urging Annex II Parties to make
"exceptional" efforts to contribute to the UNFCCC supplemental Trust
Fund, and encouraging Annex I Parties to designate their registry
administrator. SBSTA adopted the conclusions (FCCC/
SBSTA/2003/L.20).

Review of
methodological work under the UNFCCC and Protocol:
Jim Penman reported on the contact group’s work, and Parties adopted
the conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2003/L.25).

Greenhouse gas
inventories: Helen Plume
(New Zealand) reported on the informal consultations. She said
Parties had been unable to remove all of the brackets from the draft
conclusions on emissions from fuel used for international aviation
and maritime transportation. Following discussions in Plenary,
Parties agreed to remove the brackts. SBSTA then adopted the
conclusions, as amended (FCCC/SBSTA/2003/L.28).

Sinks in the CDM:
Thelma Krug reported that
agreement had been reached on a draft COP decision. Parties agreed
to forward the draft decision to the COP (FCCC/SBSTA/2003/L.27).
AUSTRALIA expressed concern regarding the singling out of
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and invasive alien species
(IAS), while NORWAY expressed preference for stronger text on
excluding GMOs and IAS. CANADA underlined the need to build
confidence in carbon sinks and increase private-sector
participation. NEW ZEALAND expressed concern that the crediting
period will not promote sustainable forest management, and urged
reconsideration of the issue after 2012. The EU underlined that the
text is balanced and reflects progress toward implementing the
Protocol.

POLICIES AND
MEASURES (P&Ms): Greg
Terrill (Australia) reported on the informal consultations and
introduced the draft conclusions, noting that the consultations were
unable to facilitate agreement. SBSTA adopted the conclusions
reflecting this (FCCC/SBSTA/2003/L.29).

R&SO:
Sue Barrell (Australia) presented the draft conclusions and a draft
COP decision discussed in the contact group. SBSTA adopted the
conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2003/L.17), and agreed to forward the draft
decision to the COP with a minor textual amendment
(FCCC/SBSTA/2003/L.17/Add.1).

COOPERATION WITH
RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONS: Outi
Berghäll (Finland) reported on informal consultations. The EU said a
workshop co-organized by the CCD and CBD on identifying and
promoting synergies through forest and forest ecosystems will be
held in March 2004, in Viterbo, Italy. SBSTA adopted the conclusions
(FCCC/SBSTA/2003/L.19).

IPCC TAR:
Chair Thorgeirsson said completing work on this issue marks a
transition to work on the two new agenda items. SBSTA adopted
conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2003/L.26), and decided to forward the draft
decision to the COP (FCCC/SBSTA/ 2003/L.26/Add.1). The RUSSIAN
FEDERATION emphasized that the TAR provides a "scientific basis of a
global nature" applicable to all Parties.

OTHER MATTERS:
Issues relating to cleaner or less-greenhouse gas-emitting energy:
Chair Thorgeirsson noted that no consensus had been reached on
issues relating to cleaner or less-greenhouse gas-emitting energy.
CANADA expressed hope that progress would be made in the future.
SBSTA adopted conclusions that note that no progress was made
(FCCC/SBSTA/2003/L.23).

Issues relating to
the implementation of Protocol Article 2.3:
Regarding implementation of Protocol Article 2.3 (adverse effects of
P&Ms), Chair Thorgeirsson said there was no agreement. SBSTA adopted
the conclusions, noting lack of agreement (FCCC/SBSTA/2003/L.24).

Any other matters:
Chair Thorgeirsson noted discussions on activities implemented
jointly underlining that the deadline for submission of reports for
inclusion in the seventh synthesis report is 1 June 2004, and
reviewed discussions regarding the outcomes of a workshop held in
September 2003 on the Brazilian Proposal.

REPORT ON THE
SESSION: SBSTA-19
Rapporteur, Tatyana Ososkova (Uzbekistan), presented the report of
SBSTA-19 which was adopted (FCCC/SBSTA/2003/L.16). Delegates thanked
Chair Thorgeirsson for his "outstanding contribution," focus on
transparency, and leadership during his term as SBSTA Chair.

Chair Thorgeirsson
then closed SBSTA-19 at 10:36 pm.

SBI PLENARY

CAPACITY BUILDING:
Dechen Tsering (Bhutan)
presented a report of the contact groupï¿½s work and the SBI agreed to
forward the draft decision to the COP (FCCC/SBI/2003/L.19). JAPAN
provided an overview of its capacity-building programmes relevant to
the decision.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND
FINANCIAL MATTERS:
Interim financial performance for the biennium 2002-3: Chair
Stoycheva introduced a draft decision (FCCC/SBI/2003/L.16), which
the SBI agreed to forward to the COP.

Programme budget for
the biennium 2004-5: John
Ashe (Antigua and Barbuda) introduced the draft COP decision. He
noted an amendment to the table on estimated costs in 2004-5 for the
preparatory activities relating to the Protocol to include a line
item on programme support and the working capital reserve. ARGENTINA
expressed a reservation on the percentages applied for the
indicative scale of assessment for the programme budget for 2004-5
and for the interim allocation for the Protocol. SBI agreed to
forward the decision to the COP, as amended (FCCC/SBI/2003/ L.22).

Following a clarification by the Secretariat and
the EU, Chair Stoycheva said Argentinaï¿½s reservation would be noted
in the SBI-19 report. ARGENTINA and BRAZIL opposed the Secretariatï¿½s
practice of withholding financial support for the participation in
UNFCCC-related meetings by Parties in arrears for more than three
years, and called for SBI conclusions correcting this practice.
Noting the importance of this issue, the US, opposed by ARGENTINA,
suggested that the SBI take this up at a future session. Chair
Stoycheva said she would undertake informal consultations on this
matter and report to the SBI on Wednesday, 10 December.

OTHER MATTERS:
Proposal by Croatia on LULUCF:
Jim Penman reported on the informal consultations and introduced
draft conclusions and a draft COP decision. ARGENTINA requested
clarification of the data used to determine the forest management
value and noted concern that this decision had taken two years to
conclude. The SBI adopted the conclusions (FCCC/ SBI/2003/L.17) and
agreed to forward a draft decision to the COP
(FCCC/SBI/2003/L.17/Add.1).

Special
circumstances of Croatia under Article 4.6:
Chair Stoycheva introduced the draft conclusions (FCCC/SBI/2003/
L.18), which the SBI adopted.

ANY OTHER MATTERS:
Chair Stoycheva introduced draft conclusions on the intention of
Belarus to use 1990 as its base year under the UNFCCC. ARGENTINA
requested clarification on whether Belarus was applying UNFCCC
Article 4.6 (flexibility for EITs), and Chair Stoycheva said this
was not the case. The SBI then adopted the conclusions
(FCCC/SBI/2003/L.21).

SAUDI ARABIA, for
the G-77/China, requested that, pursuant to Rule 10 of the Rules of
Procedure, the provisional agenda for SBI-20 and subsequent sessions
should include an item on the "continuing review of the function and
operations of the Secretariat," and requested that this proposal be
officially noted in the report of SBI-19. The SBI took note of the
request.

IN THE CORRIDORS

With Parties
scrambling to complete their work before the arrival of ministers on
Wednesday, informal consultations and contact groups continued late
into the night on Tuesday. Despite an intense work programme, a
large crowd managed to gather for the climate-symbol fashion show in
the early evening.

On another note,
following years of arduous negotiations, and a final night of
intense discussion until early morning hours, Parties finally agreed
to the details of sinks projects in the CDM. This completes one of
the last outstanding issues relating to the BAPA.

HIGH-LEVEL
ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSIONS: The
high-level round-table on climate change, adaptation, mitigation and
sustainable development will begin at 3:00 pm in Plenary I.

CONTACT GROUPS:
Contact groups will meet on the implementation of decision 5/CP.7 at
10:00 am in Florence, and on the Special Climate Change Fund at
12:00 pm in Venice.

SBI:
The closing Plenary of SBI is expected to take place at a time to be
announced.

This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin ï¿½
enb@iisd.org is written and edited by
Marï¿½a Gutiï¿½rrez maria@iisd.org, Dagmar
Lohan, Ph.D. dagmar@iisd.org, Lisa
Schipper lisa@iisd.org, Richard Sherman
rsherman@iisd.org, and Hugh Wilkins
hugh@iisd.org. The Digital Editor is
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Editor is Pamela S. Chasek, Ph.D.
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